Pub & Brewery News

Old Town Tap, Shrewsbury

Look out for a new bar opening in February in Shrewsbury. Called ‘the Old Town Tap’ it is in a building which used to be an Antiques shop in the Frankwell area of town. They plan to have 3 handpumps on the bar.

Following the triggering of the interim moratorium of the ACV protected White Lion, events have moved on. A local community group have formed, they are attempting to raise the funds necessary to buy the pub. A public meeting about the situation is being held on Thursday 30th November in the local village at at 7pm. For more information, see their website (savethewhitelionash.co.uk) or Facebook page (savethewhitelionash).

The Stables has closed, and has been sold by it’s owner who is retiring. Planning permission by the new owner to convert it into a restaurant/takeaway (called the RED LANTERN) has been approved. This is somewhat of a return to it’s roots, as for over 20 years the building housed two shops, one selling antiques, the other Fish & Chips. In 1988 the two shops were converted into the Stables pub.

The Bricklayers is soldiering on despite a seemingly steady stream of temporary managers. However it is still a rare venue in town for the New Brew beers of nearby Newport. The latest addition to their beer range, Boscobel Bitter, has been on the bar this September.

Shropshire Tales

New edition of Shropshire Tales out now, it will be distributed to local pubs shortly (click on picture for online version)

The Shropshire Brewers Cup

A trophy awarded annually to the winner of the Shropshire Beer of the Year, usually judged at the Shrewsbury Beer Festival. This years winner was the Shropshire Legends Brewery, their beer in the competition was Raven’s Bowl Oatmeal Porter. (Second was Chapel Brewery Holy Grail, third was Salopian Brewery Oracle.) Click on the picture for a list of previous winners.

Results have recently been announced, the overall winner is Goats Milk, a Bitter from Church End Brewery in Warwickshire. Congratulations also go to two local breweries who have also picked up awards – Ludlow Gold won joint Bronze in the Golden Ale category, while Salopian Automaton won Bronze in the Strong Bitter category.

Shrewsbury’s only Black Country Ales pub has now been open for a couple of months. Despite a continuing search for permanent tenants and the odd temporary closure, it is still offering a fine if slightly reduced range of ales.

Following the change in ownership of the Red Lion at Longden Common, the new owners have decided not to continue brewing in the adjoining building. However, the Brewery will continue, they are currently relocating to premises in nearby Annscroft.

The former Cornhouse at the bottom of Wyle Cop has recently re-opened under new management. Described by a local CAMRA member as a pub-cum-restaurant-cum-disco, it’s opening handpump selection has beers from London, South Wales & Peterborough.

Meet the Brewer

A growing trend is the appearance of local brewers in pubs giving informal talks on their beers & brewing processes. The Abbey in Shrewsbury has been a popular venue, already this year they have welcomed Hobson’s, Slater’s and Six Bells, with Joule’s being their next visitors on Monday July 3rd. Then on Saturday July 15th, the Bailey Head in Oswestry will be hosting an evening devoted to Salopian Brewery. These events are normally accompanied by a ‘tap takeover’, whereby as many of the handpumps of the pub as possible are given over to the Brewery concerned, so there is the opportunity of sampling the beers while hearing all about them.

Following the death of the owner earlier this year, the Railway Inn Community Venture has been set up with the brief: The purchase of the freehold of The Railway Inn, on behalf of the community, to secure its future as a key village amenity and to expand its role as a “hub” for other activities. Shares in the venture are available now, over £100,000 has already been pledged. Click here for more details.

Cider & Perry Trail 2017 – Saturday 1st July to Thursday 31st August

Passports are being distributed to pubs for the Cider & Perry promotional trail. This year over 70 pubs throughout the County are involved (click on the image on the left to see any news or corrections). The Trail will be open for July AND August.

Following the death of the owner, this is the latest news from a local group on Facebook:

NEWSFLASH……. An opportunity exists right now to buy this fabulous, multi award winning, pub for everyone who loves it for what it once was and for those who can appreciate what it can still be. Owners like Addie, Alice and Liz come along once in a millennium, people who will cherish a pub for eighty years won’t be found again. We can protect their legacy and at the same time create a hub for our local community which will thrive. There are 70 co-operatively owned community pubs now and not a single one has failed; another 110 are in the pipeline. A new Railway Inn would be for everyone, young or old, male or female. It could be so much more than ‘just a pub’ with potential for imaginative, great value food and off-sales of excellent wines and craft beers. There can be meeting rooms, a children’s play area, a coffee shop. The list goes on ….
There is a legal structure being put in place and grant funding being accessed. More complicated than Renshaw’s Field, but every bit as important and even more rewarding. Come along to an open meeting and contribute your ideas.

After many years in the wilderness, Real Ale has returned to the Old Slipper in Shrewsbury, which under new ownership has re-invented itself as Albert’s Shed. Evenings and later will still find the venue thronging with young revellers and live music, but there is a space during the daylight hours for those interested in their ale offering. Four handpumps are in place, beers up to now have been mostly local from the likes of Salopian and Chapel (the house beer, Albert’s Ale, is also a Salopian ale)

Mild in May 2017

Passports have been distributed to pubs for this years Mild in May promotion. Over 60 pubs throughout the County are involved (click on the image on the left to see any news or corrections).

During their first year in the pub to 7 March 2017, the number of different beers served has been impressive, 282 in all. And the pace has certainly not slackened during the last month to 7 April 2017where 41 have appeared on the bar.

Congratulations to the The Prince of Wales, Shrewsbury, which is Shrewsbury & West Shropshire CAMRA’s Pub of the Year in 2017, for the third year in a row.

Last year, the Prince not only won the Branch award, but was judged Pub of the Year for the County, and for the whole of the Marches area.

The picture shows landlord and landlady Victoria and Ian Payne being presented with the certificates by CAMRA Area Organiser Nigel Bevan, and Vicky looking inordinately pleased with her 2017 award, after the presentation by the Chair of Shrewsbury and West Shropshire Branch, Dave Roll. (Click on the picture for the full list of results.)

….re-opened at the start of March, now leased by new tenants. Currently on the bar are beers from Marston’s & Wells.

CAMRA What’s Brewing 1997

Sad news to report, the death of Liz Newnes, landlady of the Railway Inn at Yorton. Her family had moved into the pub in 1937, Liz was actually born there after the war. The pub reached the final of the CAMRA National Pub of the Year competition in 1996 (see picture) and featured in 19 editions of the Good Beer Guide. The funeral is on March 23rd at All Saints Church, Clive.

As reported by the Ludlow Ledger, permission has been granted to open another micro pub at 132 Corve Street in Ludlow. They are planning to serve three local cask ales and opening hours have been confirmed as 12-6pm Thursday – Saturday & 12-4pm Sunday. An opening date is not yet confirmed. (Jun 2016) UPDATE: A premises licence was issued for the property this week, so it looks like they are gearing up to finally open this year.

As previously reported, the ACV protected Cock Inn had it’s interim moratorium triggered by the intention of the current owners to sell the freehold of the pub. An Extraordinary Parish Council Meeting was convened in Hanwood on 17th Jan to respond to this. From the minutes it can be seen that the following key points emerged:

The Cock Inn and bowling club are interdependent on each other and the pub relies on the bowling club for trade. David Roll of CAMRA also supported this view and said CAMRA could offer assistance to parties wishing to look at bidding for the assets. There is no alternative location in Hanwood for the club. The bowling club want to try and save the club, possibly by buying the green/pub. Cllr. Evans further reported that the landlord has spoken to Punch Taverns who had recently put capital into the premises. Whilst Punch Taverns were content with the trade over the summer, they were not satisfied with trade for the autumn but the landlord has said that he has been told that Punch Taverns will take The Cock Inn off the market if trade improves by March. Punch Taverns are in the process of being taken over Heineken. It was acknowledged that it is key that as many people as possible use the pub. It was RESOLVED that, as an eligible community group, the Parish Council wished to put itself forward as a community group to be treated as a potential bidder to purchase: 1) The Cock Inn, Hanwood Asset of Community Value And 2) The Bowling Green, Hanwood, Asset of Community Value

Recent Beer Sightings

Recent (Jan/Feb) local ales which have been reported to us and may be of interest include: Rowton Mother Plucking Turkey & Rowton Meteorite at the Vaults (Shrewsbury), Stonehouse Ballast Porter & Salopian Black Heart Stout at the Salopian (Shrewsbury), Rowton Bitter at the Green Dragon (Little Stretton), Six Bells Detox at the Admiral Benbow (Shrewsbury), New Brew Nova Gold & Salopian Orbital at the White Hart (Ellesmere), Gorgeous Ruby Porter & Joules Penny Pincher at the Rose & Crown (Ludlow), Rowton Bitter at the Bricklayers (Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury), Wood Rebbling at the Bagley Sports & Social Club (Shrewsbury), Rowton Area 51 at the Abbey (Shrewsbury), Joules Penny Pincher at the Bricklayers (Copthorne, Shrewsbury)

Last week we unveiled our own house ale and, as The Wheatsheaf has been The Wheatsheaf since 1861 we named it… ‘Since 1861’. The ale is a gorgeous copper coloured with creamy head and, on the pump clip, we write: ‘Rich in malt with beautiful hop aromas, a smoothness that many brewers aspire to create’. AND for CAMRA members our SInce 1861 will be just £3 throughout January (usual price £3.40) so pop in and enjoy!

The Bricklayers re-opened just before Christmas, and has reverted to it’s original name (though I daresay locals will continue to refer to it as ‘the Brick’). The recent refurb has seen a complete re-modelling of the central bar area. The new owners have connections with a new brewery in Newport (Shropshire) called New Brew, so their beers will regularly be on offer as well as guest ales.

Boys & Girls, it is here!We have our own Cask Ale on pump again and it is now a permanent feature.Our ale is everything that we wanted plus more. It is creamy, Malty and extremely easy to drink and enjoy. 4.2% abv so a great sensible beer too.Come on in, try, fall in love!Oh, our beer currently has no name as we will be naming it at a special event in December…!

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7 thoughts on “Pub & Brewery News”

The Dog Hangs Well at 14 Corve Street, Ludlow opened today at 12 through until 9, serving Big Shed Engineers Best. Christmas Day and Boxing Day it will be open 12 – 2.

Normal opening hours will be 5 – 9 Thursday and Friday and all day Saturday.

The Dogs Hangs Well is a corruption of the once popular pub name ‘The Gate Hangs Well’ featuring a five-barred gate; once inscribed: This gate hangs well, and hinders non, refresh and pay, and travel on.

Thanks for your comments Les. We did have a group in Ludlow last week, but unfortunately before the place first opened to the public Let’s hope it is an asset to real ale in Ludlow, after
recent news re The Rose & Crown.

I really do hope that Joules takes care to preserve the very best features at the Rose and Crown, especially the stained glass window at the front of the pub by the current entrance.

Like Mark I also tried the Dog Hangs Well; it is a parlour pub to be recommended. Pleased to see it is up on What Pub and beer scored accordingly. It’ll be good to load up details for the Old Tap Room and Artisan Ales on 4 Old Street. The landlord, Gary Jones, can be contacted on 07971 640584 for verification of details and if anyone needs to check opening times.

Have just returned home for an enjoyable hour at Artisan Ales, 4 Old Street, Ludlow ( near the Bull Ring and 5-8 minute walk from the railway station) which has opened an upstairs as the Old Tap Room with three beers on the stillage-Ludlow Blonde, Hobsons Old Prickly and Saddlers Stout. Beers on form! Open 12-8 weekdays and 12-6 on Sundays.

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The views expressed on this site are not necessarily those of the Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information contained herein is accurate and up-to-date, no responsibility for errors or omissions can be accepted. All Trademarks acknowledged. Copyright Shrewsbury and West Shropshire Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) 2015-2018